James 1 · Verse 25

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 1:25, King James Version

James 1:25 in other translations

BSB	But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
WEB	But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
ASV	But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
YLT	and he who did look into the perfect law--that of liberty, and did continue there, this one--not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work--this one shall be happy in his doing.
DARBY	But he that fixes his view on the perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in it, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his doing.
BBE	But he who goes on looking into the true law which makes him free, being not a hearer without memory but a doer putting it into effect, this man will have a blessing on his acts.
Webster	But he who looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

What does James 1:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

25. looketh into--literally, "stoopeth down to take a close look into." Peers into: stronger than "beholdeth," or "contemplated," Jas 1:24. A blessed curiosity if it be efficacious in bearing fruit [Bengel]. perfect law of liberty--the Gospel rule of life, perfect and perfecting (as shown in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 5:48), and making us truly walk at liberty (Psa 119:32, Church of England Prayer Book Version). Christians are to aim at a higher standard of holiness than was generally understood under the law. The principle of love takes the place of the letter of the law, so that by the Spirit they are free from the yoke of sin, and free to obey by spontaneous instinct (Jas 2:8, 10, 12; Joh 8:31-36; 15:14, 15; compare 1Co 7:22; Ga 5:1, 13; 1Pe 2:16). The law is thus not made void, but fulfilled. continueth therein--contrasted with "goeth his way," Jas 1:24, continues both looking into the mirror of God's word, and doing its precepts. doer of the work--rather, "a doer of work" [Alford], an actual worker. blessed in his deed--rather, "in his doing"; in the very doing there is blessedness (Psa 19:11).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 25. But whoso looketh. παρακυψας. This word means, to stoop down near by anything; to bend forward near, so as to look at anything more closely. 1Pet 1:12. The idea here is that of a close and attentive observation. The object is not to contrast the manner of looking in the glass, and in the law of liberty, implying that the former was a "careless beholding," and the latter an attentive and careful looking, as Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, and others suppose; for the word used in the former case (κατενοησε) implies intense or accurate observation, as really as the word used here; but the object is to show that if a man would attentively look into, and continue in the law of liberty, and not do as one who went away and forgot how he looked, he would be blessed. The emphasis is not in the manner of looking, it is on the duty of continuing or persevering in the observance of the law.

The perfect law of liberty. Referring to the law of God, or his will, however made known, as the correct standard of conduct. It is called the perfect law, as being wholly free from all defects; being just such as a law ought to be. Compare Ps 19:7. It is called the law of liberty, or freedom, because it is a law producing freedom from the servitude of sinful passions and lusts. Compare Ps 119:45; Rom 6:16, seq.

And continueth therein. He must not merely look at the law, or see what he is by comparing himself with its requirements, but he must yield steady obedience to it. Jn 14:21.

This man shall be blessed in his deed. Marg., doing. The meaning is, that he shall be blessed in the very act of keeping the law. It will produce peace of conscience; it will impart happiness of a high order to his mind; it will exert a good influence over his whole soul. Ps 19:11, "In keeping of them there is great reward."

(a) "looketh into the perfect law of liberty" 2Cor 3:18 (b) "of liberty" Ps 119:45 (c) "this man shall be blessed in his deed" Lk 6:47

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law - The word παρακυψας, which we translate looketh into, is very emphatic, and signifies that deep and attentive consideration given to a thing or subject which a man cannot bring up to his eyes, and therefore must bend his back and neck, stooping down, that he may see it to the greater advantage. The law of liberty must mean the Gospel; it is a law, for it imposes obligations from God, and prescribes a rule of life; and it punishes transgressors, and rewards the obedient. It is, nevertheless, a law that gives liberty from the guilt, power, dominion, and influence of sin; and it is perfect, providing a fullness of salvation for the soul: and it may be called perfect here, in opposition to the law, which was a system of types and representations of which the Gospel is the sum and substance. Some think that the word τελειον, perfect, is added here to signify that the whole of the Gospel must be considered and received, not a part; all its threatenings with its promises, all its precepts with its privileges. And continueth - Παραμεινας· Takes time to see and examine the state of his soul, the grace of his God, the extent of his duty, and the height of the promised glory. The metaphor here is taken from those females who spend much time at their glass, in order that they may decorate themselves to the greatest advantage, and not leave one hair, or the smallest ornament, out of its place. He being not a forgetful hearer - This seems to be a reference to Deu 4:9 : "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life." He who studies and forgets is like to a woman who brings forth children, and immediately buries them. Aboth R. Nathan, cap. 23. Shall be blessed in his deed - In Pirkey Aboth, cap. Deu 4:14, it is said: "There are four kinds of men who visit the synagogues, 1. He who enters but does not work; 2. He who works but does not enter. 3. He who enters and works. 4. He who neither enters nor works. The first two are indifferent characters; the third is the righteous man; the fourth is wholly evil." As the path of duty is the way of safety, so it is the way of happiness; he who obeys God from a loving heart and pure conscience, will infallibly find continual blessedness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 1:22-25

If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the…

Read the full comment on James 1:22-25 →

James 1:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁhoThe [one]G3588

δὲdehoweverG1161

παρακύψαςparakupsashaving looked intentlyG3879

εἰςeisintoG1519

νόμονnomon[the] lawG3551

τέλειονteleionperfectG5046

τὸνtonthatG3588

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

ἐλευθερίαςeleutheriasof freedomG1657

καὶkaiandG2532

παραμείνας,parameinashaving continued in [it],G3887

οὐκouknotG3756

ἀκροατὴςakroatēsa hearerG202

ἐπιλησμονῆςepilēsmonēsforgetfulG1953

γενόμενοςgenomenoshaving beenG1096

ἀλλὰallabutG235

ποιητὴςpoiētēsa doerG4163

ἔργου,ergouof [the] work —G2041

οὗτοςhoutosthis oneG3778

μακάριοςmakariosblessedG3107

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēatheG3588

ποιήσειpoiēseiwork to be doneG4160

αὐτοῦautouby himG846

ἔσται.¶estaiwill be.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for James 1:25

Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
John 13:17
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:16
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Luke 6:47-49
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
James 2:12
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Psalms 119:96-105
I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. מ MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. …
James 1:23-24
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

looketh.
Pr 14:15; Isa 8:20; 2Co 13:5; Heb 12:15
the perfect.
2:12; Ps 19:7-10; 119:32,45,96-105; Ro 7:12,22,23
liberty.
Joh 8:32,36; Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17,18; Ga 5:1; 1Pe 2:16
and.
1Sa 12:14; Joh 8:31; 15:9,10; Ac 2:42; 13:43; 26:22; Ro 2:7,8; 11:22
Col 1:23; 1Ti 2:15; 4:16; 1Jo 2:24
a forgetful.
23,24
this.
Ps 19:11; 106:3; 119:2,3; Lu 6:47-49; 11:28; Joh 13:17; 1Co 15:58
Re 14:13; 22:14
deed. or, doing.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

James 1:24
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

Read all of James 1

James 1:25 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas el que hubiere mirado atentamente en la perfecta ley, que es la de la libertad, y perseverado en ella, no siendo oidor olvidadizo, sino hacedor de la obra, este tal será bienaventurado en su hecho.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais celui qui aura regardé de près dans la loi parfaite, celle de la liberté, et qui aura persévéré, n’étant pas un auditeur oublieux, mais un faiseur d’œuvre, celui-là sera bienheureux dans son faire.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer aber in das vollkommene Gesetz, das der Freiheit, nahe hineingeschaut hat und darin bleibt, indem er nicht ein vergeßlicher Hörer, sondern ein Täter des Werkes ist, dieser wird glückselig sein in seinem Tun.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.